While we were all sitting down to our Thanksgiving dinner, a pioneer passed away from the complications of an hemorrhagic stroke. Dr. Joseph E. Murray of Peter Bent Brigham (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital), who won the Nobel Prize in 1990 for developing the first living transplant, sharing the honor with Dr. E. Donnal Thomas, who pioneered bone marrow transplants (who died just one month earlier).
Continue reading Au Revoir to a Pioneer
Medical professionals have been opting to use stents over bypass surgery for a while. Not only because there are fewer risks to the patients, but because the costs (before insurance) are dramatically different. Should you not have insurance, you can expect the insertion of a stent to run you about $ 41K, but bypass surgery can run about $ 170K. Now, these are not your out-of-pocket costs, because there are negotiated rates for those covered by insurance, but you can bet that it still costs you more for bypass surgery, even with insurance.
Continue reading Bypass Surgery should not be by-passed!
About 30 years ago, we were expanding our transportation company (which was related to our health care business) in California. And, given our philosophy of looking for folks who needed a helping hand, we hired two folks whom we trained to become truck drivers for our firm. They both worked 20 hours a week to start. Once they acquired enough hours to take the tractor-trailer license test (and passed), we began using them for 35 to 42 hours a week. When, all of a sudden, one of the drivers announced he was quitting.
Continue reading The Law of Unintended Circumstances
Without changing America- dramatically- we have to recognize that the three pillars of our society are going to have to be modified. We are not going to replace one of those pillars in this generation. (I would hope we do so within 30 years, however.). What are those three pillars? Housing, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. Given these facts, it’s not surprising that our economy is limping along- despite our stated efforts.
Continue reading Three Pillars
So, we’ve been treating high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure as a means to preclude heart disease and strokes. But, we are not truly sure if that makes the big difference.
Continue reading Stop Heart Disease?
On the day before my birthday, something phenomenal happened. Leaders from the US Senate, the House, and scientists, researchers, University Presidents, and corporate CEO’s, along with a few other advisors, held a conference. It was entitled “A Celebration of Science”. (The website has since disappeared. However, it has become an annual celebration- you can find events by search ‘celebration of science’.) This from leaders that have seemingly been denying the need for science in our policies. (What would you call it when climate change and evolution are denied and some believe that a woman’s body exudes something (miracles?) to prevent getting pregnant from a rape?)
Continue reading A Celebration of Science?
There was a time when I would grab a 2 L bottle of diet coke after my swim. Of course, back then (not so long ago, about 15 years ago), that was but one of about 4 such bottles i downed a day. Plus, five- maybe six- cups (no wimpy sizes, here- 500 mL, for sure) of coffee in the morning and evening. But, now it’s just coffee and water that I imbibe.
Continue reading Don’t reach for that cold one, just yet!
So, here’s some research that is clearly aimed at getting our attention. Which I am giving it. But, please- read my entire blog before you go off (perhaps half-cocked) spouting some revelation that (in my opinion) is not really there.
Continue reading Attention. Attention. Attention!
You know that statement: Decisions have consequences. Well, this is a great example of that fact.
Continue reading Decisions have Consequences
You know that we are getting heftier. Oh, let’s cut the crap. We are becoming obese. And, we know that a 0.1 change in BMI is associated with a 1% change (for the worse, of course) in our well-being (as we age).
Continue reading Another problem with our propensity towards obesity